quadraturisti

Quadratu risti were a group of Italian painters active in Rome during the late 17th and early 18th centuries. The term itself, meaning "squarers" or "rectifiers," refers to their meticulous and systematic approach to illusionistic ceiling painting. They specialized in architectural perspectives that appeared to extend the real space of a room into the heavens, often using complex geometric foreshortening techniques.

Key figures associated with the Quadratu risti include Andrea Pozzo, Pietro da Cortona, and Giovanni Battista Gaulli. Pozzo, in particular, is renowned for his treatise Perspectiva pictorum et architectorum, which codified many of their principles and techniques. Their work aimed to create a sense of awe and transcendence, often depicting religious scenes with figures seemingly floating in divine spaces.

The Quadratu risti style emerged from the Baroque movement, building upon earlier experiments in illusionism. They employed techniques such as trompe-l'oeil and di sotto in sù (seen from below) to achieve their dramatic effects. Their influence extended beyond Rome, impacting ceiling decoration across Europe for decades. While their style eventually waned, the Quadratu risti left a significant legacy in the history of illusionistic art and architectural trompe-l'oeil.